THE SOUTH AFRICAN variant of the deadly Covid-19 respiratory disease in Zamboanga City is harder to detect and more difficult to treat, and there are still other strains of the virus in the community – the U.K. and Philippines variants.
With these new Covid-19 strains, Dr. Maria Ivy Rozeth Iturralde who heads the Zamboanga City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit, underscored the need for public support in stemming community transmission, especially the South African variant which is more contagious and easier to spread due to its mutation.
“Mas mabilis po yung pagkalat ng virus, mas dadami ang mao-ospital o mapupunta sa health facilities and, most probably, mas marami po ang mamamatay. This (South African) variant is harder to detect and more difficult to treat.”
“Itong variant of concern po natin, meron siyang impact sa ating testing and even sa ating mga gamot na kasalukuyang ibinibigay sa ating mga Covid-19 patients. Pwedeng hindi na ito ma-detect gamit ang ating testing kits dahil sa mutation nito at pwede rin hindi na magre-respond sa mga gamot na binibigay sa kanila,” Iturralde explained.
She urged residents to strictly comply with the health protocols by wearing face masks and face shields and observe physical distancing and washing or sanitizing hands more often.
“Zamboangueños can contribute to
fight against Covid-19 by complying with the minimum public health standards to
avoid a mirroring of the experiences in other countries. Ayaw nating matulad sa
ibang lugar o ibang bansa na kung saan hindi na nakakayanan ng healthcare
workers, nagkakaroon na ng burnout among medical professionals so eventually
nagco-collapse ang health system. Mas mahihirapan po tayo sa pagsugpo nitong pandemya”
Iturralde said. (Zamboanga Post, Claudine Uniana)
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